News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-07-14
Stoves Celebration.

Stoves Celebration.
The boom of numerous guns broke the
early morning slumbers of the GLORIOUS
Fourth. and as the sun cast its first et-
fulgent rays upon the summit of old
Mansfield the people from hillside and
dell began to assemble in the streets to
celebrate the anniversary day of oar
countrv's independence. The small boy,
typical of Young America, was full of
youthful fire and patriotism, and filled
the air with the resonant sounds of fire
cracker and torpedo, while the adults set
tied themselves on and around steps.
street corners and wherever they could
find opportunity to rest, talk of the
the weather. the anticipated exercises of
the dav. of the fun and frolic of their
boyhOOd DAYS. of the June trainings,
musters. and what was did and DONE
on once glorious 4th which they can
recOllect.
The executive committee, assisted by
citizens generally, had made ample prep
arations to accommodate the vast throng
of people that was anticipated, and al
though the day appeared prospectively
hot and dusty elsewhere, no one feared
that among our shady and well sprinkled
streets there would be any great suffer-
ing or oppression from the Intensity OF
the SUMS rays; in fact everything had
been done to keep the people cool IN
body and mind, that accidents might not
happen. that nothing might occur to mar
or lessen the pleasure of those who had
come from abroad to behold the grand
exercises of the occasion; but that the
assembled thousands might fully imbibe
the spirit and enthusiasm OF the day, and
90 home feeling that to Stowe must be
given the honor of getting up the grand
est celebration of Independence Day that
ever took place in Vermont. The streets
were made beautiful by scores of flags
and hundreds of Chinese lanterns, while
a mammoth star spanged banner
waved over the street near the Mansfield
House, and a large arch of evergreens,
from which was suspended Il large num-
Der of lanterns, spanned the public way
opposite the brick hotel. Business hOus-
es and private residences on Main and
Maple streets were profusely decorated
by the proprietors. giving evidence that
our people were fully enthused with the
memory of l77G. Before the hour of ten
had arrived, almost the entire population
of Stowe and Waterbury, with large rep
reservations from MOrristown, MOntpel-
Ter aud Burlington and intermediate
towns, were upon our streets, seeking
sitting and standing room wherever they
could. The people of MOrristown, re-
Numbering the grand success attending
our celebration of last year, again ia
vored us with their presence. assuming
that they would be richly paid, and that
their presence and appreciation of oul
exercises will, should the time ever come
be most generously reciprocated.
In early morn the dust had been wei
laid by the free use of the sprinkler anC
a gentle breeze from the west and sOutl
made the day favorable for the comfort
| of every one. The officers of the day
| DR.. D. D. Grout as marshall and o. 5
| Smith as Captain of the antiques aud hOr
ribles, with their numerous assistants
had long been untlring in making prepa
rations and were early busy on tina
morning in completing arrangements fo
the grand entree and parade of the bur
| lesque procession, and the other exercise
to occur during the celebration. Tn
people were anXiously eXpectant and fel
as Milton sang
Haste the Nymph and bring with thee
Jest and youthful jollity"
The Citizens Band of Waterbury, &C
companied by part of the Montpelie
band, opened with music from the step
densely packed the streets from Unit,
church to the Methodist church, impa
tiently awaiting the coming of Captain
Smith and his array of hOrribles. At Il
o'clock the G.. A. r. Posts of Stowe ant
Waterbury formed in line at the Tow
Hall, and headed by the Mt. Mansfield
drum corps, proceeded towards the lowe
village, where they were to meet and es
cort the long procession, attended by
caValcaGe of Indians and cowboys. o
their approach in sight an unparallele
; feeling of excitement seized the multi
tude and ran the entire length of tn
street. The public way had been keT
well cleared of teams, but the people i
their anxiety to see necesSitated til
mounted officers and policemen much Ii
Dor in restraining the crowd from entire
ly blOckading the passage. The Moul
Mansfield drum corps of l6 pieces, wit
, Prof. Cheney as drum major, and wit
their hemlet uniforms, deservedly Gale
: the best drum corps In the State, led I'll
van, and In drill, execution OF music an
general appearance, merited and receive
universal admiration. This corps is con
posed of young men of upright chara
ter and strictly moral habits, and prit
themselves in deserving the confident
and esteem of the community,
In childhood we love music,
In youth it is our food.
In age silence seems like DEATH"
- From the windows, balconies, street
e parks, walks, up, up, from everywhe
rose the excited voices of the multitud
b and as the long procession moved its WI
: along Main street, through school. su
set and up Maple street. The playing
the drum corps, the war whoop of Il
- savage, the yells of the cowboys, the i
II comparable music OF the burlesque ban
< the crying and struggles of several Sun;
boys as they were being dcVOured by t
II great man-eater, the roaring and bello'
ing of wild animals, the savage appes
ance of the wild man Gagged with the II
|, nOcerOs and hippOpotamus produced
excitement we believe never before pa
II alleled. 1t was pandemonium thrice
loose, and will never be forgotten
i those who were fortunate in witnessi
% the scene. At the head of Maple sire
# the procession reversed its course,
turning through Maple to Main sire
When nearly in front of Unity chur
- the widest and most terrible sight to
place. As the mammoth Concord Goa
re belonging to the stage line was perfOr
Is ing supposed overland journey it W
it attacked by large party of War-paint
e. Indians, who, with trained horses, rid
,e at full speed and firing as they rode, {
circlcd the coach in true savage sty
N Succeeding in stopping the coach, til
- seized therefrom Il child and were abe
to kill and scalp the balance of the p
n seugers. As Providence would have
Ii Just at this moment tile cowboys, W
e. were then on Maple street and out
IS sight of the attack. heard the yells a
III the shooting of the Indians and W
al steeds going like the wind, came do
lie upon the Indians like brace of thund
bolts, firing with deadly aim as long
L. the savages remained. Flight, with
ch cowboys in hot pursuit, was the sur
Ae escape for the Indians. With them
ry Indians bore the child. Riding a
rL1.at;.ar. 4 LIZ.